Aztec Two-Step
sometimes the old ways are the best ways
who needs vaccines, I say
let’s roll some heads tumblety-peg
into the volcano of contagion,
appease the lava god in our lungs,
intubate with obsidian knives
fellow free citizens –
you jaguar knights and eagle warriors –
a poet you must choose:
you will rip a heart from its ribs
and light a ceremonial hearth
in the hole in our chests
first paint me blue-starved O2
and surrender my body
to the cash pyramid and the priests
will you then all snake and feathers
dance with immunity
wearing my skin?
For The Sunday Muse
I have read your poem three times .. one of them aloud (in my best wannabe actor way) so impressed by the relevancy of it, the mastery you have over words and your creative process.
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Thank you! Thank you! I appreciate that so much!
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What Helen said. Give me the old any time over the antiseptic crap of today.
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Lol! Great.
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You had me at Aztec two step Qbit! A wonderful journey this poem takes you back and then forward. Helen is right, you have a mastery over words!
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Thank you!!
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Oh…this is a terrifying perfection of imagery.
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A wild ride, this one…..and I loved it!
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Hey Vivian! Thanks. Good to see you here.
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Big “HI!!” from me!
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Interesting perspective, I am not sure I want to fall into the volcano of contagion, especially if it Covid. Is there immunity now, I am not sure? I guess time will tell.
It is always interesting to see what you come up with.
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I had to come back and read this for a second time. This really is an amazing piece with great wordsmithing that captures the times.
Dark as they might be…
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Thank you! I really appreciate that.
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Bring back the Aztec 2-step! And the Mayan Rag! Too many people walking around wearing borrowed or stolen skins, I say.
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Yes, it’s a real problem.
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A poem for these troubled times, well done.
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Thanks!
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You’ve expressed so well what many of us are feeling. Do we jump in the fire or wait until out of control capitalism starves us?
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Remarkable relevant to the present time…. Thanks for sharing
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